Crossing jurisdictions in TX

[robin303]

DPS has a unit attached to the Capitol Building that works that area. What is a "radar trap"? Is that where they work radar and if you exceed the speed limit you might get a citation?

Yes Sir, but just seems odd with all the Austin cops we have.

 

[Texan2]

If a city cop pulls you over in the county you can request a deputy Sheriff to show up or a DPS.
City police operate under the licensing of the Sheriff.

Every part of this post is incorrect.

I take that back...you can request the sheriff, DPS or even the pope if you want to, you will probably be ignored. City officers have no requirement to summon another agency simply because you were stopped on a traffic stop past the city limit sign. In fact many task force officers are commissioned by cities and stop people on traffic stops all over the county or even several counties.

Please explain under what circumstance a city officer works under the Sheriff's license.

Let me save you some time. The answer is never. City officers are commissioned by their city and TCLEOSE and their license and authority to arrest have nothing to do with the Sheriff, regardless of their location.

 

[MR Redneck]

Every part of this post is incorrect.

I take that back...you can request the sheriff, DPS or even the pope if you want to, you will probably be ignored. City officers have no requirement to summon another agency simply because you were stopped on a traffic stop past the city limit sign. In fact many task force officers are commissioned by cities and stop people on traffic stops all over the county or even several counties.

Please explain under what circumstance a city officer works under the Sheriff's license.

Let me save you some time. The answer is never. City officers are commissioned by their city and TCLEOSE and their license and authority to arrest have nothing to do with the Sheriff, regardless of their location.

Well you got me. The license is something I was told by a cop, and so was the county v. city issue. Either way it doesnt matter to me. I do know that anything a city police officer does in the county goes to the county attourney. Been there and done that. My city attourner is a POS and I cant stand his punkass.

 

[Texan2]

I do know that anything a city police officer does in the county goes to the county attourney.

Strike 2...

Actually, in most rural counties, the County Attorney prosecutes Class A and B misdemeanor cases that are forwarded to them from city police and class A,B and C misdemeanors that are worked by the Sheriff's Office and DPS Troopers who arrest for these misdemeanors outside of the city limits. The District Attorney prosecutes all felonies. The City Attorny prosecutes Class C offenses within the city limits.

So they dont handle anything done by city police, just misdemeanors.

 

[MR Redneck]

Strike 2...

Actually, in most rural counties, the County Attorney prosecutes Class A and B misdemeanor cases that are forwarded to them from city police and class A,B and C misdemeanors that are worked by the Sheriff's Office and DPS Troopers who arrest for these misdemeanors outside of the city limits. The District Attorney prosecutes all felonies. The City Attorny prosecutes Class C offenses within the city limits.

So they dont handle anything done by city police, just misdemeanors.

That's good to know, but im going to forget all of the first blond I see.

 

[Texan2]

That's not exactly true, and it depends on the type of peace officer. Here's what the CCP says:

For County, City and State Police it pretty much is.....14.01 A (1) is the catch all...breach of the peace.
The other part you quoted covers Sheriff deputies, City Police, Rangers and DA Investigators, all of which are the officers who do most actual criminal work. I know there is a laundry list of other "Peace Officers" that most dont encounter regularly, but I was referring to the majority of LEOs we see everyday doing LE work. These are the ones I was referring to when asked about crossing jurisdictional lines.

 

[Bithabus]

You cut the list of peace officers short

Yes. I listed the types of officers mentioned by the statue I quoted. The rest have limited extra-jurisdictional authority.

 

[Bithabus]

For County, City and State Police it pretty much is.....14.01 A (1) is the catch all...breach of the peace.
The other part you quoted covers Sheriff deputies, City Police, Rangers and DA Investigators, all of which are the officers who do most actual criminal work. I know there is a laundry list of other "Peace Officers" that most dont encounter regularly, but I was referring to the majority of LEOs we see everyday doing LE work. These are the ones I was referring to when asked about crossing jurisdictional lines.

Understood, and I agree.

 

[Bithabus]

Missing about 30 more.

Isn't it obvious why I quoted that way? (1) (2) (3) and (5) are mentioned in 14.03 and I listed the definitions of those types so people can understand what 14.03 is saying.

Just for you, here's the rest of the list:

(6) law enforcement agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;
(7) each member of an arson investigating unit commissioned by a city, a county, or the state;
(8) officers commissioned under Section 37.081, Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code;
(9) officers commissioned by the General Services Commission;
(10) law enforcement officers commissioned by the Parks and Wildlife Commission;
(11) airport police officers commissioned by a city with a population of more than 1.18 million that operates an airport that serves commercial air carriers;
(12) airport security personnel commissioned as peace officers by the governing body of any political subdivision of this state, other than a city described by Subdivision (11), that operates an airport that serves commercial air carriers;
(13) municipal park and recreational patrolmen and security officers;
(14) security officers and investigators commissioned as peace officers by the comptroller;
(15) officers commissioned by a water control and improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;
(16) officers commissioned by a board of trustees under Chapter 54, Transportation Code;
(17) investigators commissioned by the Texas Medical Board;
(18) officers commissioned by the board of managers of the Dallas County Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, or the Bexar County Hospital District under Section 281.057, Health and Safety Code;
(19) county park rangers commissioned under Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code;
(20) investigators employed by the Texas Racing Commission;
(21) officers commissioned under Chapter 554, Occupations Code;
(22) officers commissioned by the governing body of a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108, Transportation Code, or by a regional transportation authority under Section 452.110, Transportation Code;
(23) investigators commissioned by the attorney general under Section 402.009, Government Code;
(24) security officers and investigators commissioned as peace officers under Chapter 466, Government Code;
(25) an officer employed by the Department of State Health Services under Section 431.2471, Health and Safety Code;
(26) officers appointed by an appellate court under Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;
(27) officers commissioned by the state fire marshal under Chapter 417, Government Code;
(28) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code;
(29) apprehension specialists and inspectors general commissioned by the Texas Youth Commission as officers under Sections 61.0451 and 61.0931, Human Resources Code;
(30) officers appointed by the inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019, Government Code;
(31) investigators commissioned by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education under Section 1701.160, Occupations Code;
(32) commission investigators commissioned by the Texas Private Security Board under Section 1702.061(f), Occupations Code;
(33) the fire marshal and any officers, inspectors, or investigators commissioned by an emergency services district under Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code;
(34) officers commissioned by the State Board of Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject to the limitations imposed by that section;
(35) investigators commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission as officers under Section 141.055, Human Resources Code; and
(36) the fire marshal and any related officers, inspectors, or investigators commissioned by a county under Subchapter B, Chapter 352, Local Government Code.

 

[Eli]

Question for the current and former LEs on the board.

Can you describe the circumstances when a TX LE can go outside their
realms to enforce the law?

Example when can an Austin PD officer arrest someone outside of the city limits,
but still in in Travis CO? In Hays county, say Travis deputy, in Hays?

Just curious, nothing outstanding at the present.

Thanks

What I was told by somebody licensed by both TCLEOSE and the Texas State Bar Association was something to the effect of "Peace officer jurisdiction is state-wide."
In other words, a cop doesn't stop being a cop because he crossed a county line or city limit. And don't forget the school cops, water cops, railroad cops, etc. that aren't part of a defined municipality.

Eli

 

[Texan2]

What I was told by somebody licensed by both TCLEOSE and the Texas State Bar Association was something to the effect of "Peace officer jurisdiction is state-wide."
In other words, a cop doesn't stop being a cop because he crossed a county line or city limit. And don't forget the school cops, water cops, railroad cops, etc. that aren't part of a defined municipality.

Eli

As a rule of thumb he was correct, Texas Peace Officers have statewide jurisdiction in most cases. As previously stated this applies to most city, county, and state police.....there are numerous people who have the title "Peace Officer" whose authority has more restrictions. I think they are listed in Bithibus' last post. Most of the general public never see these types of officers and thats why I didnt mention them.

 

[MR Redneck]

Not me...

 

[Y2bad4U]

Isn't it obvious why I quoted that way? (1) (2) (3) and (5) are mentioned in 14.03 and I listed the definitions of those types so people can understand what 14.03 is saying.

Just for you, here's the rest of the list:

Thanks but I have the book, from the academy.

 

[OldCurlyWolf]

Many years ago, a LEA could investigate a felony up to 400 yds. outside their city limits/county. A LEO was authorized to act on(make an arrest when the crime was directly observed) felonies and class A & B misdemeanors in his county(if outside his home jurisdiction) and on felonies anywhere in the state.

 

[txinvestigator]

Many years ago, a LEA could investigate a felony up to 400 yds. outside their city limits/county. A LEO was authorized to act on(make an arrest when the crime was directly observed) felonies and class A & B misdemeanors in his county(if outside his home jurisdiction) and on felonies anywhere in the state.

In Texas? I was certified in '83, and it was then the same as now.

 

[TexMex247]

I once got a speeding ticket on my way back from Eagle Peak on 1431. I was "speeding" in Travis county and pulled over by a Cedar Park police officer. He waited until I crossed back into Williamson county(when I was no longer speeding) before he pulled me over(and he had plenty of time to do so w/in Travis county). Looking back, I wonder if I could have requested a change of venue to the Travis county court system since the infraction occured there? Maybe someone can chime in and let me know. As it happened, I went to court and lost a great deal of respect for the Williamson county legal system while paying for not just my ticket but the officers "overtime" too. I guess all of the officers are scheduled to have time off every time they go to court, very classy. Sorry to hijack the thread, just curious about this.

 

[Bithabus]

IIRC Cedar Park sits on both Travis and Williamson counties

 

[jordanmills]

I beat radar and speed traps every time I come across one. All that modern electronics and human planning, hiding so that you are on one before you know it, and
even with Motorcycle Leo down there with the speeder's auto description and License plate number, to grab you. So how I do this ? Drive below the posted speed.
and certainly not above it.

You are a bad unamerican person. You should be arrested for telling people how to circumvent law enforcement strategies!

 

[CZ guy]

I have a high tech sort of way to pass through areas of RADAR without so much as a look from an officer. This may sound pretty complicated to some because there are basically three types of people: those that are good with numbers and those that are not.

My deal is MMIM (Mentally Mirror the Image and Match) I look at the black and white sign on the roadside, remember what the number displayed is and match the number on my speedometer to the number encased in my mind's eye from the sign. Works every time!

 

[Texan2]

IIRC Cedar Park sits on both Travis and Williamson counties

Thus the case can be filed in either jurisdiction...many agencies sit in multiple counties and file in the one that expedites the case or is more conveinient.